Read Surveys (By Author)
Ronnie Angel Pope
1. When do you feel at your most attractive?
Whenever I'm in good company.
2. Do you notice women on the street? If so, what sort of women do you tend to notice or admire?
Of course. Women who carry books beneath their arms, and who look like interesting souls that you would talk to over coffee.
Heavy tortoiseshell frames or strong and interesting walks also seem to draw my attention.
3. What are some things you admire about how other women present themselves?
I admire women who use their image as a representation of their interests. When you can see elements of notable pieces of literature, or inspirational album covers, or movements in art being put across through personal image. I admire the amount of cultural research that a lot of women do (and should do) when they're creating their own look.
It pays off, and attracts the attention of like-minded beings.
4. Was there a moment in your life when something “clicked” for you about fashion or dressing or make-up or hair? What? Why did it happen then, do you think?
After March, I became anti-fashion and pro-style. I stripped everything back, and started again, with a wardrobe full of black polo necks and skinny jeans.
This was when I discovered the power of uniform dressing.
Grace Coddington, Emmanuelle Alt, Phoebe Philo, Jil Sander, Lou Reed and Karl Lagerfeld had a strong influence on me.
5. What are some shopping rules you wouldn’t necessarily recommend to others but which you follow?
List Making.
6. What are some rules about dressing you follow, but you wouldn't necessarily recommend to others?
Uniform dressing.
I'm not overly keen to be defined by my style, although I do like my style to be definable. I always find it to be most pleasing when somebody says "that's so your style." or "that's so you." as it shows that you're making an impression.
7. What is the most transformative conversation you have ever had on the subject of fashion or style?
When I realised that my personal style was becoming my token of entry to various cultural events. Be it performances or openings or readings. I sat down over rose-lemonade with a best friend of mine, and we talked about the power of cultural influences being portrayed through our looks. Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Bryan Ferry, Edie Sedgwick and various Beat Poets were some of the names used regularly.
8. Do you have a unified way of approaching your life, work, relationships, finances, chores, etc.? Please explain.
Over time, I've taken a minimalist approach to most aspects of life. Focusing on less clutter, confusion and distance, and more close relationships, headspace and freedom.
I've become quite fascinated by the notion of 'cool' as well. Although I'm not quite sure whether or not I could define it yet.
9. Are there any clothing (or related) items that you have in multiple? Why do you think you keep buying this thing?
Black polo necks- thanks to a brief period of enthralment caused by various existentialists.
10. Have you ever successfully given someone a present of jewelry or clothing that you continue to feel good about?
I'm in the process of hand-embroidering cotton underwear for a friend.
11. Is there any fashion trend you’ve refused to participate in and why?
My generation's "common white girl" fashion (skinny blue jeans, crop tops, etc), which doesn't seem to have been fabricated out of anything important.
If I had been asked this same question a year ago, I may have answered differently, but generally, I perceive trends to be mainly about "keeping up with the Jones'" and that's not exactly an original or genuine form of self expression.
12. Can you say a bit about how your mother’s body and style has been passed down to you, or not?
Physically, we have the same nose, legs and cheekbones.
Stylistically, we have the same penchant for blanket dressing, neutral colours, rich fabrics and interesting structural pieces.
13. Have you stolen, borrowed or adapted any dressing ideas or actual items from friends or family?
I've adapted my mother's appreciation for good drapery and masculine, architectural cuts.
Leather handbags and cashmere sweaters are regularly 'borrowed.' too.
14. Was there a point in your life when your style changed dramatically? What happened?
Yes, early on this year.
I wanted to convey everything that I had an interest in, through my look. I took my love of beat literature, the velvet underground, jackson pollock, french theatre and minimalism and did my best to create an amalgamation of all that inspired me.
I had once been set on having a career in "fashion", until I discovered that my real interest was "style."
15. Is there anything political about the way you dress?
I find myself to be a bit of a walking paradox, as my style detaches me from as much as it attaches me to. It has built relationships and broken relationships, with friends and also movements or parts of society.
I'd say that the way that I dress is political on a personal level.
16. Please describe your body.
3/4 legs.
short thumbs.
17. Please describe your mind.
Overflowing with quotes and references.
18. Please describe your emotions.
Hard to define, but they're definitely there.
19. What are you wearing on your body and face, and how is your hair done, right at this moment?
My hair is backcombed and in a Bardot-esque bouffant today, and I'm in my usual ensemble of a cashmere polo neck, black skinny jeans and socks, as my wooden floor is pretty cold.
20. In what way is this stuff important, if at all?
Because creating something of your own is important.